PathWays PA Policy Blog

UPDATE 4/27/17 - Some reports are making the rounds that a vote could be held in the House as early as Friday or Saturday of this week. If you have thoughts on the bill, now is a good time to weigh in. On Capitol Hill today, members of the Freedom Caucus announced their support for the latest version of healthcare reform. An amendment drafted by Rep. Tom MacArthur of NJ would let states opt out of certain ACA provisions. The waivers primarily affect current protections for people with preexisting conditions, a term that covered everything from allergies to cancer. House Majority Leader Ryan says that even with Freedom Caucus support, he is not prepared to hold a vote until the bill has enough support to pass. For more on repeal and replace, check out our blog from a few weeks ago. And, if you want to share your thoughts on the law, call your Representative. Visit http://whoismyrepresentative.com to find contact information for your Representative and make a call today.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 23, 2016 PathWays PA joined together with 280 consumer, civil rights, labor, community, and non-profit organizations to emphasize strong and broad-based support for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)’s proposed rule to restrict the financial industry’s use of forced arbitration – a tactic used by Wall Street banks and predatory lenders to block consumers from challenging illegal behavior in court. In a joint comment letter submitted on the final day of the rule’s public comment period, the groups lauded the proposal as “a significant step forward in the ongoing fight to curb predatory practices in consumer financial products and services and to make these markets fairer and safer.” Read our letter here: http://ourfinancialsecurity.org/2016/08/letter-regulators-afr-280-groups-strongly-support-cfpb-action-forced-arbitration/ . In forced arbitration, banks and lenders bury “ripoff clauses” in the fine print of take-it-or-leave-it contracts to...

For Immediate Release One in Five Workers is Leaving Money on the Table! PathWays PA can help workers get their taxes done for free at VITA sites throughout the region – and will be announcing a special VITA site later in the week! EITC Awareness Week Events: 1/26 – PathWays PA releases list of local VITA sites online 1/27 – PathWays PA promotes DelcoAD VITA sites online 1/28 – PathWays PA makes special announcement about VITA Supersite 1/29 – PathWays PA holds EITC Awareness Twitter Storm from 10 – 11 AM (sample tweets/images available here ) www.pathwayspa.org / pathwaysvita.com / @PathWaysPA / @PathWaysPolicy #EITC Workers can get a larger tax refund this year because of the EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) – but one in five eligible workers don’t know about it! During EITC Awareness Week, PathWays PA will share information daily to help spread the word about the EITC and how we can help workers access the money they’ve earned. In 2015, 27.5 million workers recei...

Ahead of City Council Hearing, Philly Working Families, Business Owners Call for Passage of Earned Sick Days Law Comes on the Heels of President’s State of the Union Call for Cities and States to Take Action on Paid Sick Days Philadelphia, PA – Philadelphia working families, business owners, advocates and experts urged the City Council to pass a paid sick days bill to ensure Philadelphia workers can succeed as caregivers and providers ahead of a Public Health and Human Services Committee hearing . This comes on the heels of President Obama’s State of the Union call for cities and states to take action on paid sick days. “The City Council has an important opportunity to heed President Obama’s call and pass an earned sick days law to help Philadelphians succeed as caregivers and providers,” said Marianne Bellesorte, Vice President of Policy, Strategy, and Communications at PathWays PA and a leader of the Coalition for Healthy Families and Workplaces. “Passing this bill is not ju...

Statement from Lyn Kugel, Vice President of Workforce Development and Self-Sufficiency at PathWays PA and leader of the Pathways to Opportunities Partnership (POP), on the new Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) Assets and Opportunities Scorecard : Despite an improving national economy, far too many Pennsylvania residents are still struggling to achieve financial security. A new report from the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED), reveals that Pennsylvania ranks 24th overall for access to financial assets, income, jobs, housing, healthcare and education. We know that well-targeted policies can make a huge difference in the financial security of Pennsylvania families. The Scorecard complied by CFED takes a close look at how Pennsylvania and its families are faring across multiple indices and policies. Financial Assets and Income: Owning assets leads to improved economic stability for families as well as improved economic mobility. When families have financial...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Catherine Sennett, Esq., Announced As Award Recipient At Philadelphia Business Journal's Women of Distinction PHILADELPHIA, PA - Philadelphia Business Journal announced that Catherine Sennett, Esq., PathWays PA’s Board Secretary , has been selected as a 2014 Women of Distinction award recipient. Sennett will be recognized along with the region’s most dynamic women on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 from 5:00pm to 8:30pm at Vie, a Cescaphe Event Group Venue, 600 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA. "I am so excited to be named along with such talented individuals," said Sennett about receiving this prestigious award. “ Philadelphia Business Journal’s Women of Distinction highlights the skill and expertise that so many of our region’s women bring to the workplace each day.” In addition to Sennett’s work as a partner at Jackson-Cross Partners, LLC, she also makes time to serve at organizations whose mission she supports, such as PathWays PA. “Th...

The report is available on  IWPR's website .  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 1, 2013 Washington, DC—Providing paid sick days is expected to save Philadelphia employers more than half a million per year, according to a new  analysis  by the  Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) . The city’s proposed paid sick days legislation under Chapter 9-3300, would not only reduce costs to employers in Philadelphia, but would also reduce the spread of contagious diseases yielding further public health costs savings. Of the over 543,000 private sector workers in Philadelphia, about 123,900 currently have no paid leave benefits of any kind and are eligible to receive new leave under the proposed new legislation. “Providing paid sick days makes sense for businesses and it’s time to do the right thing to protect workers, reduce the spread of contagious illness, and improve public health,” said  Barbara Gault, Vice President and Executive Director of IWP...

There is so much going on right now that we did not want to miss an opportunity to update you even on issues that are not budget related. Please see our recent blog posts on Ending Human Trafficking in Pennsylvania and the Paycheck Fairness Act . State Budget Update In early May, the Pennsylvania Senate approved a 2012-13 budget plan (SB 1466), spending about $500 million more than the Governor proposed. The House is expected to vote on SB 1466 the week of June 4th. Yesterday the House Appropriates Committee passed SB 1466 out of committee. There is a spend ceiling of $27.6 billion and House members are asked to keep any amendments revenue neutral. This has upset some members who are seeking amendments based on the findings of the Independent Fiscal Office that there is an additional $300 million the state has access to. While the Committee would not increase the spend number, it was mentioned that there may be an opportunity to add additional funding on the House floo...

Opportunity Knocks Names PathWays PA as Award Winner In 5th Annual "Best Nonprofit to Work For" National Contest Holmes, PA / Feb. 13, 2012 -- Opportunity Knocks announced today that PathWays PA is a winner of the 5th Annual Peoples' Choice Best Nonprofit to Work For Awards. Winners were selected from nominations based on employee essay submissions. National nominations were held November 8, 2011 through December 31, 2011 and individuals were told to submit a brief essay on why they consider their organization to be a great place to work. Details about the Awards can be found at http://content.opportunityknocks.org/best-nonprofit-to-work-for/ “This award is a great recognition of our staff, who work together to fulfill our mission each day,” said Carol Goertzel, President/CEO of PathWays PA. “This is a great credit to the leadership of a wonderful staff in a field that can produces burnout,” added Donna Brennan, PathWays PA Board Member. “PathWays PA’s sensit...

Delaware County, PA - On Friday, January 27, DelcoAD will host a press conference and outreach event to promote Earned Income Tax Credit awareness and kickoff the 2012 tax filing season. The event will be held in the main lobby of Upper Darby's 69th Street Terminal from 1:00pm - 2:00pm and will include remarks from Mayor Micozzie, Pennsylvania State Representative Davidson, IRS Pennsylvania Territory Manager Jim Daugherty and PathWays PA President and CEO Carol Goertzel. It will also mark the opening of DelcoAD's ten Volunteer Income Tax Preparation sites, where Delaware County residents earning less than $50,000 annually can receive free tax preparation. National EITC Awareness Day, on January 27 of this year, is a nationwide effort to raise awareness of and access to the Earned Income Tax Credit, one of the largest and most effective anti-poverty tools in the United States. Millions of workers each year overlook the federal tax credit simply because their earnings do n...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information, please contact us at policy@pathwayspa.org November 21st Open House/Open Mic Supports National Runaway Month Philadelphia, PA – As we approach Thanksgiving, there is a new reason to give thanks: a new shelter for runaway girls in Philadelphia. This program, called the Basic Center Program or “Girls SHElter,” offers runaway prevention and intervention to girls under age 18 who have run away, are homeless, or are at risk of running away or becoming homeless. “So many homeless kids in Philadelphia are living on the street – they are not even couch surfing,” said Brenda Dawson, Senior Vice President of Children and Family Services at PathWays PA. “There are significant numbers of girls who are homeless, and they face many risks by staying on the street.” Runaway and homeless youth are more likely to commit crimes and/or be victims of crimes, including substance abuse, gang involvement, youth prostitution, vandalism, theft, and assau...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT – Lyn Kugel, lkugel@pathwayspa.org , 610-543-5022 x211 When Families Struggle to Put Food on the Table or Can’t Sleep Because of Unpaid Bills, Path$ 2 Benefits is There to Help Path$ 2 Benefits Works with Area Families to Provide Benefits Assistance and Financial Literacy Come see Path$ 2 Benefits in action at the PA CareerLink 990 Spring Garden Philadelphia, PA March 11 at 11:30 AM Event Includes: Welcome and Path$ 2 Benefits Program Announcement: Carol Goertzel, President and CEO, PathWays PA PA CareerLink Perspective on Path$ 2 Benefits: Jim Nichols or Sue Gutschow, PA CareerLink® Operations Administrators Value Added to the PA CareerLink through Path$ 2 Benefits: Nicki Woods, PA CareerLink® Administrator Path$ 2 Benefits: How it Works: W. Chris Rahemtulla, Lead Financial Educator and Program Coordinator, PathWays PA How Path$ 2 Benefits Helped Me: Client Philadelphia, PA – For many struggling families, each day brings a new ...

All are invited to attend DelCoAD's first annual Financial Services Fair at the Booker T. Washington Community Center in Chester on Saturday, February 12th from 10am-4pm at their premiere site, Chester Housing Authority's Booker T. Washington Community Center, 611 Central Avenue in Chester. DelCoAD, sponsored by Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development (PHENND) and the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, is a member of the National Community Tax Coalition . Chester, PA-The rush for the tax refund is on and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs nationwide are working to assist taxpayers in accessing that refund free of cost. Delaware County Asset Development group, a consortium of agencies, educational and financial institutions sponsors nine of these sites in Delaware County. This year for the first time, DelCoAD and its partners are offering a day-long "Super Site"--a Financial Services Fair where anyone who made under $50,000 i...

Delaware County, PA – At a time when many working families and individuals are struggling to pay their bills, there is a strong need for effective strategies to help these families meet their financial goals. While many working families are eligible for tax refunds through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and other tax credits, many are unaware they are eligible for refunds or receive a reduced refund through filing with commercial preparers. Today, Delaware County Asset Development Group, a member of the National Community Tax Coalition, is proud to announce the launch of free tax preparation services as a celebration of the national EITC Awareness Day on Friday, January 28th 1:30pm at their premiere site, Chester Housing Authority’s Booker T. Washington Community Center, 611 Central Avenue in Chester . DelCoAD, sponsored by Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development (PHENND) and the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, is a coalition of agencies...

PHILADELPHIA – Dec. 16, 2010 – Raising Women’s Voices of Southeastern Pennsylvania, a women’s health coalition which PathWays PA is a member of, hosted a post-election public forum titled, What’s Next For Pennsylvania: A Public Forum on the Health and Well-Being of Women and Families. State legislators and community members from Southeastern Pennsylvania engaged in conversation about women’s health care needs as lawmakers begin to implement the new health care reform law in Pennsylvania. Members of the public heard from and spoke with Senator Daylin Leach, Representative Tim Briggs, Representative Vanessa Lowery Brown, Representative-Elect Michelle Brownlee, Representative-Elect Tina Davis, Representative Tony Payton and Representative Josh Shapiro, lawmakers who will all make key decisions about how Pennsylvania health care reform is implemented during the upcoming legislative session. Topics ranged from maternity care to family planning services and protecting women’s access to ...

For more information contact: Marianne Bellesorte, Director of Policy, PathWays PA                                                            610-543-5022 - mbellesorte@pathwayspa.org Rebecca Foley, Directors of Education and Advocacy, WOMEN'S WAY 215-985-3322 - rfoley@womensway.org Daniel Morris, Director of Communications, Drum Major Institute for Public Policy  917-596-0780 - dmorris@drummajorinstitute.org Two in Five Working Philadelphians Have No Ability to Earn Paid Sick Days New Report Shows Need for Sick Days in Philadelphia and Positive Results from Paid Sick Day Legislation in San Francisco National Think Tank, Local Coalition Holding Press Conference and Lobby Day to Call Attention to the Public Health Needs of Philadelphia WHAT/WHO: PathWays PA, WOMEN'S WAY, Drum Major Institute for Public Pol...

For Immediate Release For Further Information Contact: Allen Reese or Carol Wellings PathWays PA 610 543 5022 cwellings@pathwayspa.org areese@pathwayspa.org Holmes, PA, October 6, 2010 – Five local community leaders have been chosen by PathWays PA to receive its 2010 Trailblazer Award for community service. Receiving the 2010 Trailblazer Award will be Pamela Godwin, leadership consultant and founder of Change Partners, Inc.; Mellanie Lassiter, Corporate Contributions Manager, PECO and Urban League of Phila board member; Linda McAleer, founder of the Melior Group; Joan Meyers Brown, founder of PhilaDanco and the Rt. Rev. Rodney R. Michel, Assisting Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pa. The PathWays PA Trailblazer Awards are presented annually to individuals or groups whose work with families and organizations in our communities has resulted in positive, measurable change. The 32nd anniversary celebration will take place on Tuesday, November 9 from 6:30 – 9 PM at the Radi...

2/3rd’s of 2020 Workforce are Already Out of High School – Community Colleges are the Best Way to Ensure Higher Education for Adults to Ensure a Stronger Workforce and Higher Earning Potential. In today’s troubled economy, access to good jobs and wages has become more important than ever, creating another reason for Pennsylvania to take action to ensure more students can afford and access community college education and the increased earnings potential it provides. In a new report, “ Pennsylvania’s Workforce: The Role of Community Colleges ,” PathWays PA examines the impact that community colleges and other workforce development can have on the earnings of Pennsylvanians. PathWays PA is proud to announce a forum focused on the needs of Pennsylvania's workforce and the role community colleges can play within that workforce. WHERE: United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, 1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA WHEN: September 23, 2010 - 2:00-4:00 WHO: Carol G...

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --National poverty rates rose significantly in 2009, climbing to 14.3% from 13.2% in 2008, new Census Bureau data show. In Pennsylvania, poverty rates remained essentially unchanged, going from 10.8% in 2006-07 to 11% in 2008-09. (The Census Bureau averages two years of survey data in order to improve the reliability of the state-level estimates.) The poverty rate would have risen even further nationally and in Pennsylvania in 2009, had it not been for unemployment compensation extensions and other key provisions of the 2009 American Recovery Act that have helped middle-class and low-income families stay afloat. Read the whole press release (including a quote from Carol Goertzel)!

(updated 9/8/10- press conference to be rescheduled for later date) Can Pennsylvania Afford to Leave $273 Million on the Table? By modernizing unemployment insurance, Pennsylvania can receive $273 million from the federal government while supporting unemployed workers and families (and especially women) PHILADELPHIA - When Pennsylvania's lawmakers laid out a plan last week to close holes in the state budget, they did not discuss an opportunity to gain much needed revenue for the Commonwealth through changes that could be made with simple alterations to unemployment insurance. Yet one bill, HB 2400, would give the Commonwealth the opportunity to do just that. The changes would not only bring funding to Pennsylvania; they would also ensure that more workers and families who paid into the unemployment insurance system earn their fair share of compensation upon being laid off from their jobs. In 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) included incentives to ...